Muskego Lakes Family Newsletter

• Muskego Lakes Middle School Website
• Muskego Lakes Academic Guidebook for 2021-22
• Muskego Lakes Report a Concern

• MHS Chamber Choir Performance for 5th Graders- Dec. 21st- 12:45-1:45pm
  

• No School Winter Break - Dec. 23rd - January 2nd

• Muskies United Student Retreat- Jan 5th

• Muskego High School Orientation Evening - Wednesday, January 12th

• Choir Dress Rehearsal during the day & Winter Choir Concert at the PAC- Jan. 13th

• Muskego High School Course Information Night - Wednesday, January 26th

• 8th Grade Pep Band Game with MHS Band- Jan. 28th at MHS

• MLMS Community Day- Feb. 18th

• Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences- Feb. 24th
  

• Lion King Musical - April 2-3rd

Dear Muskego Lakes Families,

Huge thanks to everyone who took time to take the Muskego Lakes Parent Satisfaction Survey this year! We are so grateful that you provided us with feedback so we can best serve our students and their families! As soon as we have access to the results, we will share them with you. We will also let you know our next best steps that we will take as a result of the feedback you provided. We are learning leaders, so we always appreciate hearing how we can better serve you.

This holiday season, we hope you know how much we appreciate you. From volunteering in classrooms to sending snacks for teachers to sharing your experiences as guest speakers, and more- we are beyond grateful for all the support and care you bring to this school community.

Just a reminder that next week, students only have school Monday, December 20th - Wednesday, December 22nd. We are looking forward to those last three days with students before the holidays as we have some fun planned for them next week. That being said, we will sure miss them over break!

And if this holiday season is going to be a hard one for your family due to a loss, a financial hardship, or any other challenge you are facing as a family- please reach out. We are here to listen, to check in, to connect you with resources, and to support you. We are so much more than a school- we are a community that shows up for one another. So, please never hesitate to let us know if you could use some extra love this holiday season.

Peace and joy to you and your loved ones.

With love,

Rachel Rydzewski & Nancy Pasch

Muskego Lakes Principals

We have quite the collection of lost and found items ranging from shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, etc. Please remind your child to check the lost and found items outside of Student Services before leaving for winter break. Any items left on December 22nd, 2021 will be donated. Thank you!

Our staff at Muskego Lakes take threats seriously. We are grateful for our partnership with students and parents as they continue to be invested in their school culture as we all work together to keep our schools safe. We encourage all families to talk about how a child should respond to any threat or concern, regardless of the source or legitimacy. If a student or parent is not comfortable going directly to a district staff member, they can use Wisconsin's Speak Up, Speak Out that will notify a school administrator and/or police authorities immediately. Speak Up, Speak Out! Speak Up, Speak Out is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety.

You may make a report by visiting the website, using your smartphone by downloading the SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT app from the Apple Store and Google Play, or by calling 1-800-MY-SUSO-1 to speak to a resource center analyst.

'Tis the season to show our staff some love! It's not to late to help us spoil the amazing staff at Muskego Lakes! Please click here to sign up for anything that you'd like to help with! Thanks

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AFAA28A46-holiday

Hello Best Buddies Club Members! Our January activity day will be on the second Wednesday of the month, January 12, 2022. Please mark this change on your calendars. See you January 12 at 3:15 - 4:15pm!

All ordering of yearbooks is done directly through Jostens. To check if you ordered a yearbook, you should create an account with Jostens. By creating an account, you can check anytime during the year to see if you have ordered one. Important to know is that after you successfully purchase the yearbook, you will receive a confirmation email.

You can still purchase a yearbook, and If you are interested in your student having a yearbook, you can order through this online link.

Muskego High School invites all students and families to two important events intended to assist with the transition to high school and the course selection/registration process.

Our first event is the Muskego High School Orientation Evening on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. This night is intended to provide some insight as to what makes MHS such an amazing place and what it means to be a Muskego Warrior. Students and families will hear about important factors to a successful transition to high school and will get a chance to hear current high school students share stories about their experience with the transition. Families will be introduced to the many co-curricular options we offer, and also have the opportunity to meet coaches and club advisors, and take a self-guided tour. Presentations will be facilitated by the

administrative team, the athletic director, and our school counseling team.

In an effort to maintain two relatively equal size presentation groups and maximize the opportunity to engage in the learning, we ask that you follow the alphabetical schedule below. Our orientation event will begin promptly at 6:00 PM with the presentations described in the outline below.

Students - Last Names A-K

• 6:00-6:45 PM Attend “Keys to Successful Transition” presentation in the Performing Arts Center (PAC)
• 6:45-7:00 PM Walk to the Salentine Gymnasium
• 7:00-7:15 PM Brief Presentation on Co-Curricular Activities in the Salentine Gymnasium
• 7:15-7:45 PM Visit Co-Curricular Activities in Cafeteria and Self-guided Tour of MHS

Students – Last Names L-Z

• 6:00-6:15 PM Brief Presentation on Co-Curricular Activities in the Salentine Gymnasium
• 6:15-6:45 PM Visit Co-Curricular Activities in Cafeteria and Self-guided Tour of MHS
• 6:45-7:00 PM Walk to the Performing Arts Center (PAC)
• 7:00-7:45 PM Attend “Keys to Successful Transition” presentation in the Performing Arts Center (PAC)

For your convenience, you may park in either the east lot along Racine Avenue (nearest the PAC) or the west lot located off Woods Road (nearest the Salentine Gym) depending upon which presentation your night will begin with. The second event, Muskego High School Course Information Night, is open to all current and incoming students/families. The goal of this event is to provide students and families access to our entire teaching staff to ask questions about the specific details and expectations of the various courses we offer. This evening is

designed to help you make informed decisions about freshman course planning in the core academic and elective areas by speaking with the teachers who teach the courses. This event will take place on Wednesday, January 26th, and will be run in an open house format from 5:00-8:00 pm.

Some school-related anxiety is normal—and helpful. It gives kids “a little healthy worry that will hopefully motivate them to study for tests, complete homework on time and focus on schoolwork. However, it's important to know how you to tell when that stress has gotten out of control? We wanted to share ways to help ease that for your child but still encouraging your child to achieve?

Signs of academic anxiety
Kids don’t always tell you how they feel or show anxiety in obvious ways, and behavior is one way kids communicate. Look out for these signs of academic anxiety in your child:

• Complaining of frequent stomachaches, headaches or other physical pain with no known medical cause
• Avoiding school or certain classes (e.g., refusing to get dressed or trying to miss the bus)
• Worrying excessively about school and no longer making time for activities they used to enjoy, including social interactions.
• Showing changes in sleep or eating habits
• Showing changes in mood, such as appearing to be “on edge,” irritable, or tearful
• Acting out in class (e.g., being the class clown, getting in fights or talking back)
• Having an “I don’t care” attitude about anything related to school
• Sweating, shaking or fast breathing when thinking or talking about school

Talking to your child about academic anxiety

It’s natural to want to help kids feel better when they are stressed, but sometimes even the best intentions backfire. By attempting to fix the problem without acknowledging their feelings, kids can end up feeling worse while getting the message that their feelings are not OK. Here are some helpful ways to respond:

Overcoming academic anxiety in the moment
What can kids do when they find themselves worrying excessively about an assignment, or feeling short of breath as a teacher passes out a test? It’s important for kids to get a chance to learn and practice these skills in a calm moment, such as at the kitchen table while doing homework, so they will be ready to use them when they feel their anxiety rise. Here are a few strategies:

• Deep breathing: Breathe slowly in through the nose and out through the mouth. Repeat several times
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Slowly tense and relax muscles. For example: As you inhale through your nose, tighten the muscles in your hands by pretending you are squeezing a lemon.. Hold for a few seconds. Now, imagine letting go of the lemon and allowing your muscles to relax, as you exhale slowly through your mouth.
• Grounding: Take a few deep breaths, and then use your senses to notice things. For example: Notice 3 things you can see around you, 2 things you can touch or 1 thing you can hear, etc.

Overcoming academic anxiety in the long run

Here are some ways you can give your child a healthy outlook on school and help them manage school-related stress.

• Practice healthy habits as a family. Healthy habits have a positive impact on both the body and mind, and they help reduce stress. Encourage the whole family to prioritize getting enough quality rest, eating well and being active.
• Encourage balance. Encourage children to explore other interests and hobbies so that school is not their only focus.
• Make time for play. Like adults, kids need unstructured time to play, unwind, be creative and relax. Taking breaks and being active can reduce stress.
• Be a positive role model. Your child still looks to you as an example, and if they see you managing stress in healthy ways they are more likely to do the same. For example: “I feel stressed about a big work deadline, but I know I will feel better if I take a break to go for a walk. Would you like to join me?”
• Teach your child how to study smarter. Knowing how to properly study, and be organized, can help reduce anxiety.
  • Break big assignments up into smaller, more manageable pieces.
  • Find a quiet space and remove distractions (such as the TV, phone, etc.).
  • Use a planner to help with time-management.

When to seek help or support for academic anxiety

Some amount of school-related anxiety is normal and to be expected for most kids (at some point in their lives). If you are ever concerned your child may be experiencing symptoms of anxiety that go beyond what is normal and manageable, or you have other concerns about their emotional wellness, please feel free to reach out to our student service team of:

• Stacey Malek - School Psychologst
• Janine Hake - School Counselor

• Stacy Pawlak - School Social Worker

Please consider joining the Muskego Lakes PTO. We meet monthly in the MLMS library. We always welcome new faces and would love to hear your ideas in how we can make this an amazing school year ahead!!

MLMS PTO Meeting Dates for 2021-2022

• January 19, 2022 @ 6:30pm
• February 16, 2022 @ 6:30pm
• March 16, 2022 @ 6:30pm
• April 20, 2022 @ 6:30pm
• May 18, 2022 @ 6:30pm

The MLMS PTO wants to thank the excellent staff for everything they do by providing midweek munchies. Every Wednesday, you have an opportunity to sign up to bring in munchies for the staff to help them make it through the week and brighten their day. If you are interested in supporting this, please sign up here.

Family Weekly Test Kits

• To opt into this program, please complete our online form by clicking here.

COVID-19 Exposure Notification

• Please to submit the follow form if you, your child, or anyone in your household has been exposed to and/or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. (Form: COVID-19 SYMPTOM OR STATUS NOTIFICATION FORM. After completing the form, someone from Health Services will be in touch with you about next steps.

Parent COVID-19 FAQ

• You can find any and all information related to COVID-19 and our response in the PARENT COVID-19 FAQ. Please take a look there before reaching out to the Health Services team.

For all other questions related to COVID-19, please refer to the MNS Health Services website for the latest health information including but not limited to COVID-19 guidelines, Illness and Injury guidelines, Immunizations, Forms, and other useful information.

We encourage you to follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

Website: https://www.muskegonorway.org/schools/muskegolakes/
Location: W124 S8009 North Cape Rd.
Phone: 262-971-1860
Twitter: @MLMSmuskies